Rock pioneer Lou Reed is dead at 71. He died in his home Southampton, NY, on Long Island. The New York Times report that the cause was liver disease, quoting Dr. Charles Miller of the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, where he had liver transplant surgery earlier this year and was being treated again until a few days ago. Reed underwent a liver transplant in May.
He was a founding member and main songwriter of The Velvet Underground, the ultimate cult band that mixed literature, avant-garde and rock 'n' roll. John Cale, Lou Reed, Nico, Sterling Morrison and Maureen Tucker became household names among serious music lovers
His solo career went through ups and down, but he never made a dull album in his lengthy career. Albums like "Berlin", "Rock 'n' Roll Animal", "The Blue Mask", "New York", and "Magic and Loss" will stand the test of time. The city of New York has lost on his greatest talents.
I'm sill reeling. I lost an idol, a mentor, a friend. A day later, I still have no words. I'll let Lou say it.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dRLPfWVOGw